Unit 2 Bargaining Updates #7 - Some progress at the table, but the fight isn’t over

On Friday, 22nd May 2026, we held our seventh bargaining session with McGill as part of our efforts to win a better contract for invigilators. Our committee consists of Sneha Senthil (Invigilator, Enrolment Services), Maureen Nayebare (Invigilator, Enrolment Services), Andrews Baada (Invigilator, SAA), Ari Blondal (AGSEM President), and Guillaume Forest-Allard (our FNEEQ bargaining advisor).

As reported in our previous newsletter, we had been awaiting McGill’s response to several union proposals. This session brought some movement. McGill agreed to notify invigilators of their specific role (Invigilator or Circulator) prior to the start of their shift, giving workers the time they need to prepare appropriately. The Employer also agreed to improve access to mandatory training materials by providing clearer job aids and more readily available technical support. On the question of shift assignment, McGill accepted language stating that shifts should be distributed as fairly and impartially as possible. While this is a step in the right direction, the language remains vague, and we will be pushing to strengthen it in future sessions.

However, several proposals aimed at meaningfully improving working conditions were rejected outright. McGill once again refused to provide snacks and coffee during shifts, and declined to place any limits on the practice of invigilators escorting students to washrooms, insisting it is necessary for academic integrity. The union’s position remains clear: academic integrity can and should be upheld through a range of measures, not by placing the full burden on going into bathrooms to check trash bins.

We also raised the ongoing issue of workers being unable to take their scheduled 15-minute breaks due to understaffing and excessive workload. Many invigilators are responsible for monitoring several rows at once and feel they cannot step away without unfairly burdening their colleagues. We proposed that invigilators be compensated when operational conditions prevent them from taking their break. McGill rejected this, stating only that supervisors may approve breaks where possible, a hollow response given that supervisors are frequently not present on site. This issue is not going away, and we will continue pressing it at the table.

Most significantly, McGill rejected our proposal to establish minimum staffing ratios during examinations. The union had proposed a minimum of one invigilator per thirty students and one circulator per seventy-five, with mandatory replacement efforts triggered if staffing falls below one invigilator per forty students or one circulator per one hundred during an active exam. McGill refused to commit to any fixed ratios. This is unacceptable. When staffing collapses on exam day, it is not the Employer who feels it, it is invigilators who are left to manage the fallout alone. The union will be standing firm on this issue in future negotiations.

We are also getting closer to discussions on monetary issues. McGill indicated that it expects to present its monetary proposal in the near future. AGSEM submitted its monetary proposal at the outset of bargaining, including a wage increase to $32/hour by the end of the collective agreement. Our proposal remains unchanged. As we move into this next phase of negotiations, we will continue advocating for compensation that reflects the important work invigilators perform and keeps pace with the rising cost of living.

We will keep members informed as bargaining continues. 

We would love to have you join us at our next session! Please fill out this form to sign up, and we’ll be in touch! The more invigilators are involved in the process, the more power and knowledge we have:)

If you have any questions, please contact our Bargaining Committee chair, Sneha at invigilator.bc1@agsem-aeedem.ca

Love and solidarity, 

Your Bargaining and Bargaining Support Committee